I was just so curious when actually people start using cell phones and how first cell phone look like? To find my answers I start digging web and came up with this article, hope you will like it!

It’s hard to imagine that once the hand held light weight device through which we can communicate throughout the world was a rarity just couple of decades of ago. Cell phones are integral part of our lives styles now and we rarely leave our homes or offices without it. The cell phones we see today have an interesting history; it all actually started couple of centuries ago when our fore-fathers were thinking that long distance communication could only be done my snail mails.

How It All Started

It takes a few men of vision to spread their dreams globally so it all really started with one man Samuel Morse. In 1832, Samuel Morse conceived the idea of electromagnetic telegraph and laid down experimental version of his idea. Then in 1842, he laid wires between Governor’s Island and Castle Garden, New York, a distance of about a mile. Half of circuitry was underwater that got broke when passing ship pulled up the cables, many speculated the end of his dream and yet Samuel Morse didn’t give up and proceeded without the cable and successfully managed to introduce first ever wireless transmission by conduction to the world.

And then the ideas started pouring in, new possibilities emerged when Michael Faraday, an analytical chemist, started an exhaustive research on space conducting electricity and then in 1865 Dr. Mahlon Loomis was the first person to communicate through wireless via atmosphere. He was the one who developed the method of transmitting and receiving messages through earth atmosphere. That was the beginning for cell phones.

The First Ever Cell Phone

Figure 1 Motorola DynaTAC 8000X (1982)

For many decades, scientist concentrated on wired communication and telephones become house hold devices. Concept of wireless phones were there but no relevant success was seen until Dr. Martin Cooper invented first ever portable phone. He was the first person actually to make phone call on cell phone, he did this on the streets of New York. He related his experience in these words:

As I walked down the street while talking on the phone, sophisticated New Yorkers gaped at the sight of someone actually moving around while making a phone call. Remember that in 1973, there weren’t cordless telephones, let alone cellular phones. I made numerous calls, including one where I crossed the street while talking to a New York radio reporter – probably one of the more dangerous things I have ever done in my life. – Martin Cooper. (Source here)

This rectangle box you’re seeing right now was the first commercial cell phone that became available in 1983. Then it cost $3995, weighted two pounds. Talking time was 35 minutes and for that, phone had to be charge for ten hours! Thankfully cell phones have improved a lot since then. You can see various images of old phones here. It’s a wonder to see how quickly technology has changed the face of the cell phone in little time.

Evolution of Cell Phones

Initially there was limited coverage and too much static filled but in 1980, cell phone quickly started to overcome it’s hurdle as proper standards and regulations were set. Inner circuitry became more powerful and smaller, making the possibility of smaller and lighter cell phone a reality. In 1990s when transmission of cellular phone went from analog to digital, quality of communication improved. With emergence of pre-paid phone accounts, cell phones truly become popular because that made this communication technology affordable for everyone.

The best thing about the evolution of cell phones is that its not over yet. Plenty of changes happened, plenty are happening and there are plenty of new ideas that are surging around that one day become an important part of cell phones.

A new research from Gartner advocates the need to design mobile phones that will answer the needs and wants of the women and children segment.

Though men comprise only 32% of the world’s population, most mobile phones are designed for this gender. Not to mention that most handset designers are also men. Gartner’s research VP, Monica Basso, pointed out:

“Mobile products will have to address gender diversity and demographics, evolving and differentiating into a range of consumer products. This trend, together with the consumerisation of IT and progressive evolution of the worker population towards younger individuals and women will force user organizations to rethink their working structures, environments and processes.”

Very true. As mobile technology evolves, handset makers should learn to ride the wave of the future. If such is the case, it’s possible there might be a profitable niche among the homosexual segment as well.